The Netwealth Group Ltd (ASX: NWL) share price is under the spotlight today after the company announced its subsidiaries have been served with a class action concerning certain First Guardian investment options. Netwealth previously paid around $101 million in compensation to affected members and had already addressed related matters with ASIC.

What did Netwealth report?

• Class action lodged against Netwealth Investments Limited and Netwealth Superannuation Services Pty Ltd concerning First Guardian investment options
• Netwealth has already paid $101 million in compensation to impacted members
• Original issues were subject to a court-enforceable undertaking with ASIC
• Compensation program was completed in January 2026

What else do investors need to know?

Netwealth has confirmed it intends to defend the class action. The company clarified that the matters underlying the claim had been previously addressed in partnership with ASIC, and compensation was paid by January 2026.

The claim does not relate to current platform features or operations. Netwealth’s full range of financial products, services, and technological capabilities remain unaffected, and day-to-day operations are continuing as normal.

What’s next for Netwealth?

Netwealth’s future focus is on defending the claim while maintaining strong governance and customer trust. The company continues to invest in technology, customer support, and governance to ensure its platform and client services remain industry-leading.

Investors can expect updates on the legal proceedings as they progress. Netwealth remains committed to transparent communication and operating in the best interests of its stakeholders.

Netwealth share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Netwealth shares have declined 38%, trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), which has fallen 1% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Netwealth faces class action after compensation payments appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Laura Stewart has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Netwealth Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Netwealth Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips. This article was prepared with the assistance of Large Language Model (LLM) tools for the initial summary of the company announcement. Any content assisted by AI is subject to our robust human-in-the-loop quality control framework, involving thorough review, substantial editing, and fact-checking by our experienced writers and editors holding appropriate credentials. The Motley Fool Australia stands behind the work of our editorial team and takes ultimate responsibility for the content published by The Motley Fool Australia.

BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) is a popular option for investors looking for copper exposure.

But given its very strong run over the past 12 months, investors might find better value elsewhere on the market.

The team at Bell Potter certainly thinks that is the case and is recommending one ASX copper stock to clients.

Which ASX copper stock?

The stock that has caught the eye of Bell Potter is AIC Mines Ltd (ASX: A1M).

It is a Western Australia-based copper production and exploration company focused on the 100%-owned Eloise Copper Project (ECP).

Bell Potter highlights that the ASX copper stock has announced the acquisition of the Mt Cuthbert copper project, located ~150km northwest of its Eloise operation. It said:

Mt Cuthbert is a past-producing copper mine, with infrastructure including copper oxide heap leach pads and an 8,000tpa solvent extraction and electrowinning (SX-EW) processing facility (on care and maintenance). The project also has a 64-room camp, site offices, workshops and diesel fired power generation. 

Past production includes ~17.3kt Cu cathode from oxide operations and ~5.7kt Cu in concentrate at a recovery of 92% via toll-treatment of sulphide ore at the Ernest Henry mine (2020). The project has Mineral Resources of 18.7Mt @ 1.3% Cu for 246kt Cu located entirely on granted Mining Leases within a highly prospective 2,400km2 tenement package. ~74% of the current Resource is sulphide ore, for ~180kt contained copper.

Should you invest?

According to the note, the broker has retained its buy rating on the ASX copper stock with an improved price target of $1.15 (from $1.05).

Based on its current share price of 90 cents, this implies potential upside of approximately 28% for investors over the next 12 months.

Bell Potter believes this leaves the company well-positioned to become a multi-mine copper producer. Commenting on its recommendation, the broker said:

This sets a clear strategic direction for growth for A1M to develop a second production asset and become a multi-mine copper producer. The implied acquisition valuation of the Resource compares favourably with A1M’s pre-deal valuation and the infrastructure and production history de-risks the asset. 

While A1M’s development strategy relies on exploration success, we view the existing Resources as highly prospective for growth and A1M’s planned 60,000m drill program as aggressive. EPS changes in this report are: FY27: -26%, FY28: -30%, FY29: -23%, reflecting increased exploration expenditure and the dilution of equity issuance for the deal. We retain our Price performance Buy recommendation on a 10% higher NPV-based target price of $1.15/sh.

The post Forget BHP and buy this ASX copper stock appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended BHP Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Super Retail Group vs Wesfarmers shares: Which dividend stock is better right now?

Everyday investors weighing up Super Retail Group Ltd (ASX: SUL) and Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) shares could find themselves facing a classic income-versus-stability puzzle. Both companies are big names on the ASX, offer strong brands, and pay fully franked dividends. But there are major differences in size, recent performance, and dividend yield. So, which of these consumer stocks deserves a spot in a dividend-hunter’s portfolio right now?

The case for Super Retail Group

Super Retail Group operates some of Australia and New Zealand’s most recognisable retail brands, including Supercheap Auto, Rebel, BCF, and Macpac. It’s a go-to retailer for auto parts, sporting goods, and camping and outdoor gear. According to its most recent public description, the group oversees more than 700 stores, plus online stores, and sources products internationally. Supercheap Auto alone brings in the largest slice of sales revenue.

Three stand-out fundamentals grab my attention. First, Super Retail Group’s fully franked dividend yield comes in at a hefty 5.28%, based on current data. Second, its P/E ratio is 13.59, suggesting a much lower valuation than Wesfarmers, at least on current earnings. Third, despite a steady dividend record, its shares have been under pressure, sporting a year-to-date return of -19.2% as of the latest figures.

On the dividend front, Super Retail Group has shown a long history of consistent, fully franked dividends, with regular interim and final payouts, plus some special dividends in recent years. The latest annual dividend was 65 cents per share, again fully franked.

The case for Wesfarmers

Wesfarmers is one of Australia’s largest conglomerates, with operations spread across retail (Bunnings, Kmart, Officeworks, Priceline), chemicals, energy, and fertilisers, among other sectors. It’s a diversified powerhouse that brings the kind of stability you’d expect from a business with more than a century of history and a mix of non-retail exposure.

If I zero in on fundamentals, Wesfarmers’ market cap is huge at $83.73 billion, reflecting its scale and diversification. Its fully franked dividend yield is 3.03%—lower than Super Retail Group, but still respectable for a blue chip name. The P/E ratio is 28.93, which is more than twice that of Super Retail Group, making it look much pricier if we compare purely on that basis. Its year-to-date return is -6.8%, meaning it’s held up better than Super Retail Group across recent volatility, though it’s still down for the year.

Dividend history is another positive. Wesfarmers has also maintained a steady rhythm of fully franked dividends, including interim and final payments, with some occasional specials.

Valuation comparison

Here’s how some key metrics stack up:

Metric	Super Retail Group	Wesfarmers
P/E Ratio	13.59	28.93
Dividend Yield	5.28%	3.03%
Dividend per Share	$0.65	$2.22
EPS	0.906	2.534
Franking	100%	100%
Market Cap	$2.81B	$83.73B

Wesfarmers’ P/E is notably higher than Super Retail Group’s P/E, meaning you’re paying a larger multiple for each dollar of earnings. As for dividends, Super Retail Group is hands-down ahead on headline yield, and both companies offer fully franked payouts.

Recent share price performance

Let’s look at how the shares have performed in the short term. Comparing the period until 23 September:

• Super Retail Group closed at $12.43, having shown some volatility and a year-to-date decline of -19.2%.
• Wesfarmers closed at $73.79, with less severe declines and a year-to-date return of -6.8%.

This suggests that while neither company has been immune from market volatility, Wesfarmers shares have been much more resilient in 2026 so far.

Which is the better buy?

If I had to pick a consumer stock for dividends right now, I’d lean toward Super Retail Group. Its forward dividend yield of 5.28%, fully franked, is a clear standout versus Wesfarmers’ 3.03%. The company has a consistent payout history—and while the recent price decline might feel uncomfortable, it’s exactly this weakness that’s pushed up the yield and left the stock trading on a much lower earnings multiple.

Of course, Wesfarmers offers scale, diversification, and stability that you just don’t get with a smaller, focused retailer like Super Retail Group. Its size might make it the steadier option for risk-averse investors and its business mix is broader, but if I’m focused on dividend income and value, Super Retail Group currently looks more appealing based on the fundamentals visible here.

That said, neither company has escaped this year’s broader market negativity, and anyone considering either name should be mindful of why sentiment has cooled. Still, right now, Super Retail Group’s high, fully franked dividend yield and modest P/E ratio tip the scales for me, as long as you’re comfortable with some short-term volatility.

The post Super Retail Group vs Wesfarmers: Dividend showdown for Aussie investors appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Laura Stewart has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Super Retail Group and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Super Retail Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips. This article was prepared with the assistance of Large Language Model (LLM) tools for the initial draft. Any content assisted by AI is subject to our robust human-in-the-loop quality control framework, involving thorough review, substantial editing, and fact-checking by our experienced writers and editors holding appropriate credentials. The Motley Fool Australia stands behind the work of our editorial team and takes ultimate responsibility for the content published by The Motley Fool Australia.